NCIS. Abby/Kate. 010. Years. *
Title: Desperado
Fandom: NCIS
Characters: Abigail Sciuto, Caitlin Todd, Jethro Gibbs, Tony DiNozzo, Donald "Ducky" Mallard, Jimmy Palmer, Director Tom Morrow, Ziva David
Prompt: 010 Years
Word Count: 5,113
Rating: R
Summary: The discovery of a century-old body on Quantico prompts Kate to have bizarre dreams...
Author's Notes: I fudge with history and timelines. A lot. But look at it as a dream and historical accuracy becomes a much smaller issue. ;-D
Little Damn Table
Kate stood atop the ridge, looking down where Ducky was busy extracting the body from the thickly-packed dirt. "What do you think we're looking at?" Gibbs asked.
"It appears to be an unfortunate hiker who underestimated the slope of the hill here," Ducky said. "No need to inform the loved ones, Jethro; she's been here a good long while."
"She?" Kate asked.
"You can generally tell by the hipbones," Ducky said. "We'll have to wait for confirmation, but... I'd say within 90% certainty this was a woman."
"About how long ago, Duck?"
Ducky held his hands out, tilting his head as he peered down at the body. "Oh, at least a century..."
"Wow," Kate said, looking around. "How different was this place in 1905?"
"Actually, it wasn't quite that different from what you see now... less telephone and electrical wires, of course."
Kate smiled. "Of course."
Ducky started to say something else, but was distracted by something at his feet. "Oh... oh, dear."
"Ducky?"
Ducky knelt and brushed aside some dirt. "Jethro, I'm afraid I may need to recant my earlier theory as to this poor young lady's demise." He lifted the rusty knife and said, "I believe she was murdered."
---
Gibbs held the elevator door for Director Morrow, pressing the button for the third floor when he was inside. "Century-old body dug up on Quantico. No identification, no reason to believe the knife was used in foul play..."
"Traces of blood on the knife," Gibbs said.
"Which, given the time period, may have come from killing an animal, either for sport or food."
"Abby's tested the blood. It's human. If she compares the DNA on the blood to the marrow..."
"Jethro," the Director sighed, "the chances of identifying this woman are a million to one. Even if her DNA is on file from whenever she died, what do you hope to accomplish from investigating?"
Gibbs thought for a moment, but was unable to come up with anything.
"The historical society is going to take possession of the remains. If there's anything to be learned, they'll inform us. Until that time, I don't want your team investigating this."
"Yes, sir."
---
Kate sat on the edge of her couch, slipping out of her shoes and bending down to rub the soles of her feet. Walking around the backwoods at Quantico was not her idea of a fun time. She sat back, undoing the first two buttons on her blouse to let the material sag a bit. The TV was showing a John Wayne movie, something - surprisingly enough - Western.
She put her feet up on the coffee table, watching a bit until she thought of something else to do. She supposed she could call Abby, see if she wanted a girl's night out... but the thought of walking to the phone was just so exhausting. She yawned, curling her toes and letting her eyes drift shut. She could follow the movie well enough with just the words.
Besides. She wasn't going to sleep. Not really. Just... resting her eyes...
~~~
Caitlin Todd jumped as the impact rocked her house. She jerked from her nap, half-turning to look at the front of the house and cursing herself for her jumpiness. She stood and walked to the front door, gathering her skirts in front of her as she crossed the living room. On her front lawn, Sheriff Anthony DiNozzo was smiling at her from atop his horse. "What are you doing here, Sheriff?" she asked.
"Just trying to get your attention, Miss Todd."
"By ramming my house?"
"Being polite ain't doing much, is it? Now, the government wants this land for that new military base they're putting up. You're not doing anyone no good sitting here, being stubborn."
Caitlin stepped off the porch. "My father built this house. My mother gave birth to me in this house. I ain't leaving."
"Well, that's a shame." He whistled and the house shook again. Caitlin rushed to the side yard and saw the cart that was doing the ramming. "Jimmy Palmer!"
The boy looked up, eyes wide behind his wire-framed glasses. He had been smiling, but at the sight of his target, he paled deeply. "Miss Todd. I..."
"Get off that cart right now! What would your mama say, she saw you treating someone like this?"
"Jimmy, you stay on your cart like a good boy," DiNozzo said. He trotted his horse over and said, "Look, Miss Todd. One way or t'other, the military is getting this land. Might want to make it easier on everyone and just... move out of the way."
Caitlin spit on DiNozzo's horse and said, "Maybe you're right. But for now, it's my land. And I don't want your horse's crap on it."
"My horse ain't laid a single dropping."
"I was talking about you," Caitlin said. "Get out of here, Sheriff."
He doffed his hat to her and said, "We're just trying to impart some wisdom on you, ma'am. Come on, Jimmy, let's git."
Caitlin watched them ride off before going back into her house, slamming the door behind herself.
---
She was undressing for bed when she heard the noises. Convinced Sheriff DiNozzo and his lackey had come back, she threw on a dressing gown and found her father's shotgun. She stormed onto the porch, scanning the darkness for signs of the cowardly sheriff, ready to teach him a lesson about trespassing. She stepped onto the grass and heard a man shout, "No! Don't!"
Caitlin frowned and moved towards the trees, dropping into a crouch. She spotted the man who'd shouted running, tripping over his own feet and falling face-first into the dirt. Another shadow lunged at him, bringing a knife up over his head before slashing at the man beneath him. "No!" the victim shouted, the knife coming up again for another pass.
Stunned, Caitlin brought her gun up and said, "Stop right there!"
The attacker froze, knife in mid-swing and turned towards her. Her eyes widened and she froze; she'd never shot another person before. If he attacked her...
But he turned and ran, disappearing into the darkness. Caitlin rushed forward and dropped to her knees next to the victim, almost gagging at the sight of so much blood. "Who was that man?"
"Wum..."
Caitlin frowned and shook her head. "What... I-I can't..."
"Woman."
Caitlin looked into the shadows, wondering if who she'd seen could possibly have been a woman. Then she realized the severity of her situation; she was kneeling next to a dying man, stabbed to death on her property, the only witness to what had really happened. Maybe Sheriff DiNozzo would get her land after all...
---
The man died before Caitlin could make a decision on whether to move him or leave him where he was. Rather than allow wild animals to feast on him, she covered his body with a housecoat and dragged him into the barn. She left him on the cart, covering him with several thick shawls and staring at the lump he made. Against her better judgment, she decided to wait until morning to do anything further. She knew someone who may help... if she could convince him to help.
In the morning, she dressed as casually as she could and left her house, mounting her horse and riding to town. She prayed DiNozzo wouldn't snoop around while she was gone, but she kept her horse at a steady clip just the same. When she arrived in town, she went directly to the tavern.
She tied her horse out front, walking through the swinging doors and hearing the inevitable scrape of chairs on wood floor as people turned to look at her. She ignored them, moving straight to the back of the room to a man sitting alone at a table. "Jethro," she said, putting her hand on his back.
The older man didn't turn, didn't flinch, didn't even acknowledge his own name. His hands were wrapped around a flask, bloodshot eyes staring at a photo in the center of the table. She took a seat next to him and quietly said, "Jethro, I'm in trouble. I need your help."
"Unless your problem is a bottle of wine you need drained," Gibbs rasped, "I'd say look elsewhere."
Caitlin looked down at the photo and said, "She would hate to see you like this."
"I should've died instead of her," Gibbs said. "I'm just fixing what fate screwed up."
Caitlin leaned forward. "A man was killed on my property last night. I didn't see the killer, but the body is still there. If Sheriff DiNozzo catches wind, I'll lose my home. Please, Jethro. I need you to prove I didn't do it."
Gibbs closed his eyes and sat back, rubbing his face. "Call Doc Loco. Have him take a look at the body. Tell him it's for me. He'll keep it quiet."
Caitlin put her hand on top of his and squeezed. "Thank you, Jethro."
He took a swig off his flask as Caitlin stood, moving to the door.
---
Doc Loco put his foot on the porch and turned, surveying the view from Caitlin's door. "Every time I wonder why you fight so hard to protect this place, I must remind myself of this view."
Caitlin smiled. Donald "Locomotive" Mallard, nicknamed after the famous steam locomotive. She stepped outside and joined him on the steps. "Thank you for coming so quickly, Loco," she said. "I know how busy you are."
"Yes, the occupation of coroner has very few slow periods. But I am always available to lend a hand to a lovely lady." He smiled and nodded towards the barn. "Jethro tells me you have something unbelievable to show me."
Caitlin nodded hesitantly. "A body."
"Oh, dear, not one of your lovely mounts!"
"No... um... Loco, someone was killed on my property last night."
"What?"
"I'm afraid if I tell the wrong people, Sheriff DiNozzo will take my property. Just... please... if there's any way you can examine the body... maybe figure out a way I couldn't have done it..."
"Caitlin, this is highly irregular! The man was killed in your barn...?"
"No," Caitlin said. "I moved him."
"Caitlin," Loco sighed. He pushed his gray hair off his forehead and said, "Very well... take me to the body, as much good as that will do..."
She led him into the barn, lifting the sheets she'd used to cover the body. Loco watched her and shook his head again. "Honestly, Caitlin, you do like to make work for an old man, don't you?" He climbed onto the cart and knelt next to the body. "You couldn't possibly have killed this man."
Caitlin didn't believe her ears. "What? How can you tell so fast?"
"This man is roughly the same height you are," he said, holding his hands out as if to bracket the body. "The fatal wound, to his throat here, was cut at an upward angle. The murderer was at least six inches shorter than the victim."
"That's unbelievable, Loco! So... I can go to the sheriff?"
"You'll have to explain why you moved the body, of course, but other than that... I'd stake my reputation on the fact you could not have killed this man."
Caitlin hugged Loco around the neck and said, "Thank you, Mr. Mallard. Thank you so much."
"I'll clear you of murder any day if this is the reward," Loco smiled.
---
Caitlin dropped Loco off at his office and continued the cart towards the sheriff's office. She had rehearsed her speech so many times, it was starting to fall from her lips like her own name. The body was in the cart behind her; when she woke this morning, she would say, she went for a walk and found the man lying in the trees and had immediately loaded him up, bringing him down to the police as fast as possible.
She knew Jethro and Mallard would back her up. She was just worried whether DiNozzo would take her story at face value.
She lashed her horse to the post outside the sheriff's office and hesitated, gathering her courage before she walked inside. DiNozzo was seated behind the desk and frowned when she walked in. "Well, I'll be damned," he muttered. "Come to give up?"
"I'm here to report a body," Caitlin said. "Someone was killed on my property last night."
"Issat so," DiNozzo muttered. "Who?"
"Never seen him before."
DiNozzo stood and said, "Stabbed to death?"
Caitlin paled. "How do you know..."
"We've already got the murderer," DiNozzo said. "Just couldn't find a body."
"You arrested someone without a body? How could--"
"No choice," DiNozzo said. "She walked in and confessed."
Caitlin remembered the dying man's last words: "Woman." She looked towards the cells and said, "Who is it?"
"Can't tell you that."
Caitlin moved towards the cells, eyes widening when she saw who resided in the first block. She was dressed all in black, bright red lipstick and dark kohl smeared around her eyes. "The Witch?" she gasped.
DiNozzo grabbed Caitlin's shoulders, pulling her away and moving her towards the door. "I don't want any gossip about this spreadin'. You have the body?"
"In my cart."
"Take it to Doc Loco. Meantime..." He sighed and hung his head. "If the body was found on your property, that means it's a crime scene."
"And you can't touch it," Caitlin gasped.
"Goody for you," DiNozzo muttered. "Now git."
Caitlin stepped onto the porch, unable to believe what had just happened. Of course, now that the body was protecting her land, she had even more of a motive. But what did that matter? If the Witch had turned herself in... problem solved. At least for a while. Her property was protected until they closed the case entirely.
Suddenly, the day had gotten much brighter.
---
Caitlin stopped at the bar, ordering a drink before heading over to Jethro's table. She took a seat and said, "Everything's fixed now. Loco cleared me, someone's turned herself in for the murder... my property is even protected until the case is closed. Which, given how slowly justice moves around here, may force the military base to relocate."
"Great," Jethro sighed.
"I want to thank you for your help."
"I didn't do anything," Jethro said. He rose from his chair and went to the bar, tapping his flask on the bar. "Refill."
Caitlin stood, moving to leave when Sheriff DiNozzo darkened the doorway. "Miss Todd. Was just looking for ya."
"I thought you were going to stop harassing me."
"Ain't harassing. The, uh... murder suspect wants to talk to you."
Kate's eyes widened and she glanced over her shoulder at Gibbs. "Why would she want to talk to me?"
"Don't know. Didn't ask. Don't like talking to her much myself." He looked past her, smiling when he saw Gibbs. "Hey, old-timer. Drown yourself yet?"
Jethro glared at DiNozzo and turned around.
"Keeping your chair warm for ya, boss. Any time you sober up for more'n a day in a row, I'll let you have it back."
Caitlin pushed past DiNozzo and muttered, "He's still more of a sheriff than you'll ever be."
"Maybe so," DiNozzo said. "Least I can stand upright for more than a minute at a time." He chuckled as Gibbs dropped back into his chair, shaking his head and following Caitlin from the bar.
---
She hesitated as she neared the cell door. Jimmy Palmer was seated in a wooden chair across from the cell, a shotgun lain across his lap. He stood when DiNozzo and Caitlin approached and said, "She ain't made a peep since you left."
"Good," DiNozzo said. He hitched his belt up and said, "Stand up, Witch."
The woman stood, her shawl falling around her like folded bat wings. Caitlin repressed a shudder.
"Here she is. Speak your piece."
"In private," the Witch said. Caitlin was surprised by how soft the woman's voice was. Despite all the gossip and rumors, she'd never actually heard the Witch speak.
"I ain't leaving you alone with her," DiNozzo said.
The Witch sighed. "I'm not going to hurt her. If I do, you can hang me twice."
Caitlin said, "It's all right, Sheriff."
He glared at the Witch a moment longer, then took Jimmy's shotgun and handed it to Caitlin. "Aim for the head. We don't know what kind of voodoo she does." He shepherded Jimmy from the room, slamming the door behind him.
Caitlin put down the shotgun and moved to the cell door. "What should I call you?"
"My name's Abigail."
"I'm Caitlin."
"I know. I've heard of you... Gossip goes both ways, you know."
Caitlin almost asked aloud who had been gossiping to the Witch. "Why did you kill that man last night?"
"I didn't."
Caitlin was shocked. "Why did you turn yourself in?"
"Because I know who did. I saw her, out in the woods. Bloody and carrying that knife... I knew something had happened. I was afraid she'd come back, try to finish me off. Why not? Who'd miss the Witch, right?"
Caitlin looked down, ashamed to admit she'd been thinking that very thing. "At least here, I'm safe. But I wanted... I wanted to tell you that I'm innocent."
"Why me?"
"We're neighbors," Abigail said. "You don't have to pretend you knew that... I'm fairly quiet. But I see you sometimes... hanging your laundry or sitting on your porch."
"You watch me?"
"No," Abigail said. "It's just that sometimes, when I'm out for a walk, I'll see you."
"Oh," Caitlin said. "I still don't see what you want me to do."
"Find the killer. She has to still be in town. She's a little shorter than you, dark, curly hair... light-skinned, but not white."
"Abigail..."
"Please, Caitlin."
Caitlin looked down at her hands. This woman had been her neighbor for years and she'd never known it. She'd let gossip and rumors affect how she'd seen her and now, speaking to her, she saw she was just a normal person. She nodded and said, "Okay. I'll see if I can find her. Anything besides her hair and skin color I should look out for?"
Abigail thought for a moment and then shook her head. "I'm sorry, it was dark."
Caitlin started to leave, but Abigail said, "Wait." When Caitlin came back, Abigail put her hand through the bars of the door. "Thank you. For listening to me."
Caitlin hesitated and then took Abigail's hand, squeezing it. "I'll try not to let you down."
---
Gibbs wasn't in the bar when Caitlin returned, surprising her. She asked the bartender where he'd gone and he seemed as surprised as she was to find his corner table empty. Caitlin left, looking down the main street in the hopes she'd spot him. She wandered down the street, eventually stopping in front of the coroner's office.
She went inside, surprised to find that her search was over. Jethro was seated at Loco's desk, head in his hands and without a flask in sight. Caitlin moved towards him and said, "Jethro? Are you all right?"
He motioned towards the back room and she left him alone, finding Loco in a small alcove off the main room. "Caitlin. You've heard the sheriff has arrested someone for the murder, I take it."
"Yes, she's..."
"Innocent? I know."
Caitlin blinked. "What...? H-how did you..."
"The same way I cleared you, my dear. Abigail is taller than you! There's no way she could have implemented the wounds." He paused and tilted his head at her. "How did you know she was innocent?"
"She told me."
"Well," Loco said. "The former sheriff was assisting me in theorizing who could possibly have killed the young man."
"Do we have any idea who he is?"
"I've never seen him in town," Jethro said, appearing behind Loco like an apparition. "Did Gail tell you why she turned herself in?"
"Abigail," Caitlin corrected. "She said she was scared that the real killer would come back for her. She claimed she saw the real killer."
"Huh," Loco said. "Did she give you a description?"
"Light-skinned, dark curly hair."
Jethro closed his eyes. "And she's short..."
"Right."
"I saw her."
"Where?" Caitlin asked.
Gibbs glared at her.
"The bar," Caitlin said quietly. "Of course."
Gibbs nodded and said, "Why don't we go see if she's still around."
---
The dark-haired woman was indeed still in the bar and looked up as Gibbs and Caitlin approached her table. "I don't wish for company, thank you," she said carefully.
Gibbs took a seat across from her. "You murdered a man last night."
The woman smiled and glanced over at Caitlin. "I'm sorry. I was under the impression that loudmouth young man was the sheriff. And, if I'm not mistaken, some sort of... witch?... has already confessed to the crime."
Caitlin said, "Have you been in town long?"
"Just a few days," the woman shrugged.
"Planning on a long stay?" Gibbs asked.
"It depends. If I continue to be harassed, I may cut my visit shorter than anticipated."
Gibbs nodded and stood. "I'm sorry to interrupt your solitude. I know how precious it is."
The woman nodded. "It is quite all right."
"I just thought you should know," Gibbs added. "They're going to release Abigail. The coroner determined she couldn't have murdered the man. As soon as she's free, we'll be spending all our time pestering her, trying to figure out what she saw that night."
"Wonderful," the woman said, her smile slightly pinched at the corners.
They walked out of the bar and Caitlin grabbed his shoulder as soon as they stepped onto the porch. "What was all that about?"
"I was just letting her know where we wanted her."
"And that would be?"
"Abigail's house. Just after dark."
---
Gibbs convinced DiNozzo to release Abigail, going more on Loco's findings than Gibbs' opinion. The sheriff reluctantly released Abigail and sent her on her way. "You better be sure about this, Gibbs," DiNozzo said, watching as Caitlin and Abigail mounted their horses.
"Me too," Gibbs muttered.
---
Caitlin rode beside Abigail, glancing over at the other rider occasionally. Finally, Abigail smiled knowingly and said, "What do you want to know?"
Caitlin's eyes widened. "You knew what I was thinking?"
"You don't have to be a witch to know what you were thinking," Abigail said. "I'm just a regular woman who happens to like things a little south of normal. I don't mind people calling me a witch because it means they leave me alone."
"It's quite a step to take. Isolating yourself like this."
Abigail shrugged. "It can be hard sometimes. Like if there's someone you really want to meet, but they're scared of you."
Caitlin glanced over. Now it was she who didn't need psychic powers to read the other person's mind. She said, "Listen. Abigail... now that I know how close together we live..."
"I won't walk by your property anymore."
"No, not that. It's... I was going to say that if you wanted to stop in, visit for a while... I wouldn't mind."
Abigail smiled. "Really?"
"Yeah."
Abigail grinned and said, "I may take you up on that. Providing I survive the night."
Caitlin nodded, reminded of the danger they were both in. She glanced over her shoulder, hoping Gibbs and DiNozzo were there. If not... she hoped the mystery woman from the bar wasn't there either.
She spurred her horse to go just a little faster; the sun was starting to set.
---
They dismounted at Abigail's house, heading inside. Abigail lit candles while Caitlin checked the rooms for any lurking bad guys. Determining they were alone, Caitlin returned to the living room and took a moment to appreciate Abigail's décor. "Your home is so lovely."
"I do what I can with what I have," Abigail said. "Do you drink? Or cider?"
"What kind of cider?"
"Blood, wombat juice..." She looked over her shoulder and said, "I am joking, you know."
Caitlin smiled nervously. "Apple?"
"I have apple."
She moved into the kitchen and withdrew a jug from the ice chest. Caitlin leaned against the wall, looking out at the trees. The doorbell rang and Caitlin frowned, looking over her shoulder at Abby. "Are you expecting anyone?"
"Kate?" Abby said. "Kate, are you home?"
~~~
Kate sat up, blinking as she let the dream fade. She stumbled to the front door and pulled it open, blinking as Abby walked into the apartment. "You're not answering your phone anymore?"
"I didn't hear it," Kate mumbled, scratching the back of her neck. She watched Abby put a tray down on the kitchen counter, closing the door and joining her. "What's that?"
"Brownies. I made them. I wanted your expert baker's opinion on how good they were."
"Oh," Kate said, stifling a yawn.
Abby finally noticed how Kate's hair was sticking up and said, "Were you asleep? God, I'm sorry!"
"No, it's fine," Kate assured her. "I was having the most... bizarre dream."
"Was I there? And Gibbs and Tony and there's no place like home?"
Kate smiled. "Cut the brownies, Dorothy."
---
After gorging themselves on brownies, Kate and Abby curled up on the couch. Kate put her head on Abby's shoulder, feeling sleep pull her further and further down. "I'm falling asleep," she whispered.
"Want me to go?" Abby asked, reaching up and scratching Kate's cheek.
"No," Kate sighed, pressing closer to Abby as she fell asleep once more.
~~~
A bell rang outside and Caitlin glanced at Abigail. "Does that sound familiar to you?"
"No," Abigail said. She and Caitlin headed to the front of the house, peering through the window. The sound was like a dinner call, the ringing of a triangle. There was no one on the front porch, no one anywhere nearby. "Think it's the sheriff?" Abigail asked.
"No," Caitlin said. "He's keeping a low profile. This is the killer."
Abigail put her hand on Caitlin's shoulder. "I'm scared."
Caitlin wrapped an arm around Abigail and said, "It's all right. Gibbs won't let anything happen to us."
"The drunk?" Abigail said, skeptical.
Caitlin bit back the sharp reply and said, "He never once called you the Witch, Abigail. You should know not to judge books by their covers."
Abigail closed her eyes. "You're right. I'm sorry."
"I trust Jethro. He'll come through."
"If you're confident, then I am, too." Abigail pressed her lips together and nodded.
The back door swung open, hitting the wall with a crack like a gunshot. Caitlin and Abigail both ducked to the side, jumping behind a rocking chair. "Stay here," Caitlin said.
"Where will you be?"
Caitlin, instead of answering, stood and dashed into the kitchen. Abigail's eyes widened in horror as she waited for the gunshot that never came, waited to hear Caitlin hit the ground and the killer to come looking for her.
---
Caitlin paused in the kitchen to find a knife, concealing it in her skirt as she neared the open back door. She stepped out onto the porch, gripping the knife tightly as she scanned the yard for movement. She took a single step before the killer slammed into her from behind, knocking her forward and off the porch. "You couldn't mind your own business, eh?" the woman said, her accent thicker than it had been in the bar.
"Why did you kill that man?" Caitlin asked, her feet tangling in her dress as she tried to stand.
"All you must know is he was my target. He deserved to die."
"But Abigail doesn't!"
"She saw my face. As did you and the drunk earlier. This entire mission is becoming quite the hassle."
The woman lunged at Caitlin, swinging her right arm in a wide arc. Caitlin heard the bodice of her dress rip and howled in pain, dropping to her knees. The woman laughed and said, "Pretty American women. So bright, and yet so fragile." She brought her knife up again, readying the kill-strike.
Caitlin spun on her knee and thrust up with her hand, burying the knife deep in the other woman's gut. The killer exhaled sharply, eyes wide in the dark. Her fingers loosened around her own knife and it fell to the ground.
"Caitlin?!" Abigail said, running out onto the back porch.
"I'm okay!" Caitlin called, staggering to her feet. Blood was trickling from the wound on her stomach and she started to fall, caught by Abigail. "Is she..."
"Looks like it," Abigail said. She kissed Kate's eyebrow and said, "You saved my life."
Caitlin beamed and pressed her face against Abigail's shoulder.
---
They buried the mystery woman and the knife at the back of Abigail's property. When Gibbs and DiNozzo arrived, Caitlin's wound had been tended and she'd changed into another dress. Gibbs revealed they had been ambushed, their horses ran from the road and crippled. They figured the killer had already been to Abigail's house and done the dirty work.
DiNozzo was assured that everything was fine, but Gibbs kept his eye on Caitlin for a long time after he started back to the road. There was nothing he could do to prove what he suspected and no reason he should try. Caitlin finally bid good-bye to Abigail and headed for her own home. At the edge of the trees, she couldn't resist stopping and looking back, smiling when she saw Abigail was watching her.
~~~
"Kate," Abby whispered. "We should go to bed."
"Mm," Kate murmured, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
Abby rubbed Kate's back and said, "What were you dreaming about? You kept saying things in your sleep."
Kate thought for a moment and shook her head. "Can't remember. Come on. Let's go to bed." She took Abby's hand, intertwining their fingers and leading her to the bedroom.
~~~
Caitlin looked up, smiling at the sight of Abigail standing at the edge of her property. She waved her over and lifted the jug of iced tea she'd prepared in the hopes Abigail would stop by.
Abigail came up the stairs and looked at the layout. "Mind if I sit for a while?"
"I'd love the company," Caitlin said.
Abigail sat in the chair next to Caitlin and poured herself a glass of tea. She clinked her glass against Caitlin's before taking a sip, watching the sunset behind the trees. In a few months, they would lose the battle and the military would take over this little swath of country, complete with their shared secret buried six feet deep. But for now, it was theirs. All theirs. The trees, the sunset and the iced tea.
Fandom: NCIS
Characters: Abigail Sciuto, Caitlin Todd, Jethro Gibbs, Tony DiNozzo, Donald "Ducky" Mallard, Jimmy Palmer, Director Tom Morrow, Ziva David
Prompt: 010 Years
Word Count: 5,113
Rating: R
Summary: The discovery of a century-old body on Quantico prompts Kate to have bizarre dreams...
Author's Notes: I fudge with history and timelines. A lot. But look at it as a dream and historical accuracy becomes a much smaller issue. ;-D
Little Damn Table
Kate stood atop the ridge, looking down where Ducky was busy extracting the body from the thickly-packed dirt. "What do you think we're looking at?" Gibbs asked.
"It appears to be an unfortunate hiker who underestimated the slope of the hill here," Ducky said. "No need to inform the loved ones, Jethro; she's been here a good long while."
"She?" Kate asked.
"You can generally tell by the hipbones," Ducky said. "We'll have to wait for confirmation, but... I'd say within 90% certainty this was a woman."
"About how long ago, Duck?"
Ducky held his hands out, tilting his head as he peered down at the body. "Oh, at least a century..."
"Wow," Kate said, looking around. "How different was this place in 1905?"
"Actually, it wasn't quite that different from what you see now... less telephone and electrical wires, of course."
Kate smiled. "Of course."
Ducky started to say something else, but was distracted by something at his feet. "Oh... oh, dear."
"Ducky?"
Ducky knelt and brushed aside some dirt. "Jethro, I'm afraid I may need to recant my earlier theory as to this poor young lady's demise." He lifted the rusty knife and said, "I believe she was murdered."
---
Gibbs held the elevator door for Director Morrow, pressing the button for the third floor when he was inside. "Century-old body dug up on Quantico. No identification, no reason to believe the knife was used in foul play..."
"Traces of blood on the knife," Gibbs said.
"Which, given the time period, may have come from killing an animal, either for sport or food."
"Abby's tested the blood. It's human. If she compares the DNA on the blood to the marrow..."
"Jethro," the Director sighed, "the chances of identifying this woman are a million to one. Even if her DNA is on file from whenever she died, what do you hope to accomplish from investigating?"
Gibbs thought for a moment, but was unable to come up with anything.
"The historical society is going to take possession of the remains. If there's anything to be learned, they'll inform us. Until that time, I don't want your team investigating this."
"Yes, sir."
---
Kate sat on the edge of her couch, slipping out of her shoes and bending down to rub the soles of her feet. Walking around the backwoods at Quantico was not her idea of a fun time. She sat back, undoing the first two buttons on her blouse to let the material sag a bit. The TV was showing a John Wayne movie, something - surprisingly enough - Western.
She put her feet up on the coffee table, watching a bit until she thought of something else to do. She supposed she could call Abby, see if she wanted a girl's night out... but the thought of walking to the phone was just so exhausting. She yawned, curling her toes and letting her eyes drift shut. She could follow the movie well enough with just the words.
Besides. She wasn't going to sleep. Not really. Just... resting her eyes...
~~~
Caitlin Todd jumped as the impact rocked her house. She jerked from her nap, half-turning to look at the front of the house and cursing herself for her jumpiness. She stood and walked to the front door, gathering her skirts in front of her as she crossed the living room. On her front lawn, Sheriff Anthony DiNozzo was smiling at her from atop his horse. "What are you doing here, Sheriff?" she asked.
"Just trying to get your attention, Miss Todd."
"By ramming my house?"
"Being polite ain't doing much, is it? Now, the government wants this land for that new military base they're putting up. You're not doing anyone no good sitting here, being stubborn."
Caitlin stepped off the porch. "My father built this house. My mother gave birth to me in this house. I ain't leaving."
"Well, that's a shame." He whistled and the house shook again. Caitlin rushed to the side yard and saw the cart that was doing the ramming. "Jimmy Palmer!"
The boy looked up, eyes wide behind his wire-framed glasses. He had been smiling, but at the sight of his target, he paled deeply. "Miss Todd. I..."
"Get off that cart right now! What would your mama say, she saw you treating someone like this?"
"Jimmy, you stay on your cart like a good boy," DiNozzo said. He trotted his horse over and said, "Look, Miss Todd. One way or t'other, the military is getting this land. Might want to make it easier on everyone and just... move out of the way."
Caitlin spit on DiNozzo's horse and said, "Maybe you're right. But for now, it's my land. And I don't want your horse's crap on it."
"My horse ain't laid a single dropping."
"I was talking about you," Caitlin said. "Get out of here, Sheriff."
He doffed his hat to her and said, "We're just trying to impart some wisdom on you, ma'am. Come on, Jimmy, let's git."
Caitlin watched them ride off before going back into her house, slamming the door behind herself.
---
She was undressing for bed when she heard the noises. Convinced Sheriff DiNozzo and his lackey had come back, she threw on a dressing gown and found her father's shotgun. She stormed onto the porch, scanning the darkness for signs of the cowardly sheriff, ready to teach him a lesson about trespassing. She stepped onto the grass and heard a man shout, "No! Don't!"
Caitlin frowned and moved towards the trees, dropping into a crouch. She spotted the man who'd shouted running, tripping over his own feet and falling face-first into the dirt. Another shadow lunged at him, bringing a knife up over his head before slashing at the man beneath him. "No!" the victim shouted, the knife coming up again for another pass.
Stunned, Caitlin brought her gun up and said, "Stop right there!"
The attacker froze, knife in mid-swing and turned towards her. Her eyes widened and she froze; she'd never shot another person before. If he attacked her...
But he turned and ran, disappearing into the darkness. Caitlin rushed forward and dropped to her knees next to the victim, almost gagging at the sight of so much blood. "Who was that man?"
"Wum..."
Caitlin frowned and shook her head. "What... I-I can't..."
"Woman."
Caitlin looked into the shadows, wondering if who she'd seen could possibly have been a woman. Then she realized the severity of her situation; she was kneeling next to a dying man, stabbed to death on her property, the only witness to what had really happened. Maybe Sheriff DiNozzo would get her land after all...
---
The man died before Caitlin could make a decision on whether to move him or leave him where he was. Rather than allow wild animals to feast on him, she covered his body with a housecoat and dragged him into the barn. She left him on the cart, covering him with several thick shawls and staring at the lump he made. Against her better judgment, she decided to wait until morning to do anything further. She knew someone who may help... if she could convince him to help.
In the morning, she dressed as casually as she could and left her house, mounting her horse and riding to town. She prayed DiNozzo wouldn't snoop around while she was gone, but she kept her horse at a steady clip just the same. When she arrived in town, she went directly to the tavern.
She tied her horse out front, walking through the swinging doors and hearing the inevitable scrape of chairs on wood floor as people turned to look at her. She ignored them, moving straight to the back of the room to a man sitting alone at a table. "Jethro," she said, putting her hand on his back.
The older man didn't turn, didn't flinch, didn't even acknowledge his own name. His hands were wrapped around a flask, bloodshot eyes staring at a photo in the center of the table. She took a seat next to him and quietly said, "Jethro, I'm in trouble. I need your help."
"Unless your problem is a bottle of wine you need drained," Gibbs rasped, "I'd say look elsewhere."
Caitlin looked down at the photo and said, "She would hate to see you like this."
"I should've died instead of her," Gibbs said. "I'm just fixing what fate screwed up."
Caitlin leaned forward. "A man was killed on my property last night. I didn't see the killer, but the body is still there. If Sheriff DiNozzo catches wind, I'll lose my home. Please, Jethro. I need you to prove I didn't do it."
Gibbs closed his eyes and sat back, rubbing his face. "Call Doc Loco. Have him take a look at the body. Tell him it's for me. He'll keep it quiet."
Caitlin put her hand on top of his and squeezed. "Thank you, Jethro."
He took a swig off his flask as Caitlin stood, moving to the door.
---
Doc Loco put his foot on the porch and turned, surveying the view from Caitlin's door. "Every time I wonder why you fight so hard to protect this place, I must remind myself of this view."
Caitlin smiled. Donald "Locomotive" Mallard, nicknamed after the famous steam locomotive. She stepped outside and joined him on the steps. "Thank you for coming so quickly, Loco," she said. "I know how busy you are."
"Yes, the occupation of coroner has very few slow periods. But I am always available to lend a hand to a lovely lady." He smiled and nodded towards the barn. "Jethro tells me you have something unbelievable to show me."
Caitlin nodded hesitantly. "A body."
"Oh, dear, not one of your lovely mounts!"
"No... um... Loco, someone was killed on my property last night."
"What?"
"I'm afraid if I tell the wrong people, Sheriff DiNozzo will take my property. Just... please... if there's any way you can examine the body... maybe figure out a way I couldn't have done it..."
"Caitlin, this is highly irregular! The man was killed in your barn...?"
"No," Caitlin said. "I moved him."
"Caitlin," Loco sighed. He pushed his gray hair off his forehead and said, "Very well... take me to the body, as much good as that will do..."
She led him into the barn, lifting the sheets she'd used to cover the body. Loco watched her and shook his head again. "Honestly, Caitlin, you do like to make work for an old man, don't you?" He climbed onto the cart and knelt next to the body. "You couldn't possibly have killed this man."
Caitlin didn't believe her ears. "What? How can you tell so fast?"
"This man is roughly the same height you are," he said, holding his hands out as if to bracket the body. "The fatal wound, to his throat here, was cut at an upward angle. The murderer was at least six inches shorter than the victim."
"That's unbelievable, Loco! So... I can go to the sheriff?"
"You'll have to explain why you moved the body, of course, but other than that... I'd stake my reputation on the fact you could not have killed this man."
Caitlin hugged Loco around the neck and said, "Thank you, Mr. Mallard. Thank you so much."
"I'll clear you of murder any day if this is the reward," Loco smiled.
---
Caitlin dropped Loco off at his office and continued the cart towards the sheriff's office. She had rehearsed her speech so many times, it was starting to fall from her lips like her own name. The body was in the cart behind her; when she woke this morning, she would say, she went for a walk and found the man lying in the trees and had immediately loaded him up, bringing him down to the police as fast as possible.
She knew Jethro and Mallard would back her up. She was just worried whether DiNozzo would take her story at face value.
She lashed her horse to the post outside the sheriff's office and hesitated, gathering her courage before she walked inside. DiNozzo was seated behind the desk and frowned when she walked in. "Well, I'll be damned," he muttered. "Come to give up?"
"I'm here to report a body," Caitlin said. "Someone was killed on my property last night."
"Issat so," DiNozzo muttered. "Who?"
"Never seen him before."
DiNozzo stood and said, "Stabbed to death?"
Caitlin paled. "How do you know..."
"We've already got the murderer," DiNozzo said. "Just couldn't find a body."
"You arrested someone without a body? How could--"
"No choice," DiNozzo said. "She walked in and confessed."
Caitlin remembered the dying man's last words: "Woman." She looked towards the cells and said, "Who is it?"
"Can't tell you that."
Caitlin moved towards the cells, eyes widening when she saw who resided in the first block. She was dressed all in black, bright red lipstick and dark kohl smeared around her eyes. "The Witch?" she gasped.
DiNozzo grabbed Caitlin's shoulders, pulling her away and moving her towards the door. "I don't want any gossip about this spreadin'. You have the body?"
"In my cart."
"Take it to Doc Loco. Meantime..." He sighed and hung his head. "If the body was found on your property, that means it's a crime scene."
"And you can't touch it," Caitlin gasped.
"Goody for you," DiNozzo muttered. "Now git."
Caitlin stepped onto the porch, unable to believe what had just happened. Of course, now that the body was protecting her land, she had even more of a motive. But what did that matter? If the Witch had turned herself in... problem solved. At least for a while. Her property was protected until they closed the case entirely.
Suddenly, the day had gotten much brighter.
---
Caitlin stopped at the bar, ordering a drink before heading over to Jethro's table. She took a seat and said, "Everything's fixed now. Loco cleared me, someone's turned herself in for the murder... my property is even protected until the case is closed. Which, given how slowly justice moves around here, may force the military base to relocate."
"Great," Jethro sighed.
"I want to thank you for your help."
"I didn't do anything," Jethro said. He rose from his chair and went to the bar, tapping his flask on the bar. "Refill."
Caitlin stood, moving to leave when Sheriff DiNozzo darkened the doorway. "Miss Todd. Was just looking for ya."
"I thought you were going to stop harassing me."
"Ain't harassing. The, uh... murder suspect wants to talk to you."
Kate's eyes widened and she glanced over her shoulder at Gibbs. "Why would she want to talk to me?"
"Don't know. Didn't ask. Don't like talking to her much myself." He looked past her, smiling when he saw Gibbs. "Hey, old-timer. Drown yourself yet?"
Jethro glared at DiNozzo and turned around.
"Keeping your chair warm for ya, boss. Any time you sober up for more'n a day in a row, I'll let you have it back."
Caitlin pushed past DiNozzo and muttered, "He's still more of a sheriff than you'll ever be."
"Maybe so," DiNozzo said. "Least I can stand upright for more than a minute at a time." He chuckled as Gibbs dropped back into his chair, shaking his head and following Caitlin from the bar.
---
She hesitated as she neared the cell door. Jimmy Palmer was seated in a wooden chair across from the cell, a shotgun lain across his lap. He stood when DiNozzo and Caitlin approached and said, "She ain't made a peep since you left."
"Good," DiNozzo said. He hitched his belt up and said, "Stand up, Witch."
The woman stood, her shawl falling around her like folded bat wings. Caitlin repressed a shudder.
"Here she is. Speak your piece."
"In private," the Witch said. Caitlin was surprised by how soft the woman's voice was. Despite all the gossip and rumors, she'd never actually heard the Witch speak.
"I ain't leaving you alone with her," DiNozzo said.
The Witch sighed. "I'm not going to hurt her. If I do, you can hang me twice."
Caitlin said, "It's all right, Sheriff."
He glared at the Witch a moment longer, then took Jimmy's shotgun and handed it to Caitlin. "Aim for the head. We don't know what kind of voodoo she does." He shepherded Jimmy from the room, slamming the door behind him.
Caitlin put down the shotgun and moved to the cell door. "What should I call you?"
"My name's Abigail."
"I'm Caitlin."
"I know. I've heard of you... Gossip goes both ways, you know."
Caitlin almost asked aloud who had been gossiping to the Witch. "Why did you kill that man last night?"
"I didn't."
Caitlin was shocked. "Why did you turn yourself in?"
"Because I know who did. I saw her, out in the woods. Bloody and carrying that knife... I knew something had happened. I was afraid she'd come back, try to finish me off. Why not? Who'd miss the Witch, right?"
Caitlin looked down, ashamed to admit she'd been thinking that very thing. "At least here, I'm safe. But I wanted... I wanted to tell you that I'm innocent."
"Why me?"
"We're neighbors," Abigail said. "You don't have to pretend you knew that... I'm fairly quiet. But I see you sometimes... hanging your laundry or sitting on your porch."
"You watch me?"
"No," Abigail said. "It's just that sometimes, when I'm out for a walk, I'll see you."
"Oh," Caitlin said. "I still don't see what you want me to do."
"Find the killer. She has to still be in town. She's a little shorter than you, dark, curly hair... light-skinned, but not white."
"Abigail..."
"Please, Caitlin."
Caitlin looked down at her hands. This woman had been her neighbor for years and she'd never known it. She'd let gossip and rumors affect how she'd seen her and now, speaking to her, she saw she was just a normal person. She nodded and said, "Okay. I'll see if I can find her. Anything besides her hair and skin color I should look out for?"
Abigail thought for a moment and then shook her head. "I'm sorry, it was dark."
Caitlin started to leave, but Abigail said, "Wait." When Caitlin came back, Abigail put her hand through the bars of the door. "Thank you. For listening to me."
Caitlin hesitated and then took Abigail's hand, squeezing it. "I'll try not to let you down."
---
Gibbs wasn't in the bar when Caitlin returned, surprising her. She asked the bartender where he'd gone and he seemed as surprised as she was to find his corner table empty. Caitlin left, looking down the main street in the hopes she'd spot him. She wandered down the street, eventually stopping in front of the coroner's office.
She went inside, surprised to find that her search was over. Jethro was seated at Loco's desk, head in his hands and without a flask in sight. Caitlin moved towards him and said, "Jethro? Are you all right?"
He motioned towards the back room and she left him alone, finding Loco in a small alcove off the main room. "Caitlin. You've heard the sheriff has arrested someone for the murder, I take it."
"Yes, she's..."
"Innocent? I know."
Caitlin blinked. "What...? H-how did you..."
"The same way I cleared you, my dear. Abigail is taller than you! There's no way she could have implemented the wounds." He paused and tilted his head at her. "How did you know she was innocent?"
"She told me."
"Well," Loco said. "The former sheriff was assisting me in theorizing who could possibly have killed the young man."
"Do we have any idea who he is?"
"I've never seen him in town," Jethro said, appearing behind Loco like an apparition. "Did Gail tell you why she turned herself in?"
"Abigail," Caitlin corrected. "She said she was scared that the real killer would come back for her. She claimed she saw the real killer."
"Huh," Loco said. "Did she give you a description?"
"Light-skinned, dark curly hair."
Jethro closed his eyes. "And she's short..."
"Right."
"I saw her."
"Where?" Caitlin asked.
Gibbs glared at her.
"The bar," Caitlin said quietly. "Of course."
Gibbs nodded and said, "Why don't we go see if she's still around."
---
The dark-haired woman was indeed still in the bar and looked up as Gibbs and Caitlin approached her table. "I don't wish for company, thank you," she said carefully.
Gibbs took a seat across from her. "You murdered a man last night."
The woman smiled and glanced over at Caitlin. "I'm sorry. I was under the impression that loudmouth young man was the sheriff. And, if I'm not mistaken, some sort of... witch?... has already confessed to the crime."
Caitlin said, "Have you been in town long?"
"Just a few days," the woman shrugged.
"Planning on a long stay?" Gibbs asked.
"It depends. If I continue to be harassed, I may cut my visit shorter than anticipated."
Gibbs nodded and stood. "I'm sorry to interrupt your solitude. I know how precious it is."
The woman nodded. "It is quite all right."
"I just thought you should know," Gibbs added. "They're going to release Abigail. The coroner determined she couldn't have murdered the man. As soon as she's free, we'll be spending all our time pestering her, trying to figure out what she saw that night."
"Wonderful," the woman said, her smile slightly pinched at the corners.
They walked out of the bar and Caitlin grabbed his shoulder as soon as they stepped onto the porch. "What was all that about?"
"I was just letting her know where we wanted her."
"And that would be?"
"Abigail's house. Just after dark."
---
Gibbs convinced DiNozzo to release Abigail, going more on Loco's findings than Gibbs' opinion. The sheriff reluctantly released Abigail and sent her on her way. "You better be sure about this, Gibbs," DiNozzo said, watching as Caitlin and Abigail mounted their horses.
"Me too," Gibbs muttered.
---
Caitlin rode beside Abigail, glancing over at the other rider occasionally. Finally, Abigail smiled knowingly and said, "What do you want to know?"
Caitlin's eyes widened. "You knew what I was thinking?"
"You don't have to be a witch to know what you were thinking," Abigail said. "I'm just a regular woman who happens to like things a little south of normal. I don't mind people calling me a witch because it means they leave me alone."
"It's quite a step to take. Isolating yourself like this."
Abigail shrugged. "It can be hard sometimes. Like if there's someone you really want to meet, but they're scared of you."
Caitlin glanced over. Now it was she who didn't need psychic powers to read the other person's mind. She said, "Listen. Abigail... now that I know how close together we live..."
"I won't walk by your property anymore."
"No, not that. It's... I was going to say that if you wanted to stop in, visit for a while... I wouldn't mind."
Abigail smiled. "Really?"
"Yeah."
Abigail grinned and said, "I may take you up on that. Providing I survive the night."
Caitlin nodded, reminded of the danger they were both in. She glanced over her shoulder, hoping Gibbs and DiNozzo were there. If not... she hoped the mystery woman from the bar wasn't there either.
She spurred her horse to go just a little faster; the sun was starting to set.
---
They dismounted at Abigail's house, heading inside. Abigail lit candles while Caitlin checked the rooms for any lurking bad guys. Determining they were alone, Caitlin returned to the living room and took a moment to appreciate Abigail's décor. "Your home is so lovely."
"I do what I can with what I have," Abigail said. "Do you drink? Or cider?"
"What kind of cider?"
"Blood, wombat juice..." She looked over her shoulder and said, "I am joking, you know."
Caitlin smiled nervously. "Apple?"
"I have apple."
She moved into the kitchen and withdrew a jug from the ice chest. Caitlin leaned against the wall, looking out at the trees. The doorbell rang and Caitlin frowned, looking over her shoulder at Abby. "Are you expecting anyone?"
"Kate?" Abby said. "Kate, are you home?"
~~~
Kate sat up, blinking as she let the dream fade. She stumbled to the front door and pulled it open, blinking as Abby walked into the apartment. "You're not answering your phone anymore?"
"I didn't hear it," Kate mumbled, scratching the back of her neck. She watched Abby put a tray down on the kitchen counter, closing the door and joining her. "What's that?"
"Brownies. I made them. I wanted your expert baker's opinion on how good they were."
"Oh," Kate said, stifling a yawn.
Abby finally noticed how Kate's hair was sticking up and said, "Were you asleep? God, I'm sorry!"
"No, it's fine," Kate assured her. "I was having the most... bizarre dream."
"Was I there? And Gibbs and Tony and there's no place like home?"
Kate smiled. "Cut the brownies, Dorothy."
---
After gorging themselves on brownies, Kate and Abby curled up on the couch. Kate put her head on Abby's shoulder, feeling sleep pull her further and further down. "I'm falling asleep," she whispered.
"Want me to go?" Abby asked, reaching up and scratching Kate's cheek.
"No," Kate sighed, pressing closer to Abby as she fell asleep once more.
~~~
A bell rang outside and Caitlin glanced at Abigail. "Does that sound familiar to you?"
"No," Abigail said. She and Caitlin headed to the front of the house, peering through the window. The sound was like a dinner call, the ringing of a triangle. There was no one on the front porch, no one anywhere nearby. "Think it's the sheriff?" Abigail asked.
"No," Caitlin said. "He's keeping a low profile. This is the killer."
Abigail put her hand on Caitlin's shoulder. "I'm scared."
Caitlin wrapped an arm around Abigail and said, "It's all right. Gibbs won't let anything happen to us."
"The drunk?" Abigail said, skeptical.
Caitlin bit back the sharp reply and said, "He never once called you the Witch, Abigail. You should know not to judge books by their covers."
Abigail closed her eyes. "You're right. I'm sorry."
"I trust Jethro. He'll come through."
"If you're confident, then I am, too." Abigail pressed her lips together and nodded.
The back door swung open, hitting the wall with a crack like a gunshot. Caitlin and Abigail both ducked to the side, jumping behind a rocking chair. "Stay here," Caitlin said.
"Where will you be?"
Caitlin, instead of answering, stood and dashed into the kitchen. Abigail's eyes widened in horror as she waited for the gunshot that never came, waited to hear Caitlin hit the ground and the killer to come looking for her.
---
Caitlin paused in the kitchen to find a knife, concealing it in her skirt as she neared the open back door. She stepped out onto the porch, gripping the knife tightly as she scanned the yard for movement. She took a single step before the killer slammed into her from behind, knocking her forward and off the porch. "You couldn't mind your own business, eh?" the woman said, her accent thicker than it had been in the bar.
"Why did you kill that man?" Caitlin asked, her feet tangling in her dress as she tried to stand.
"All you must know is he was my target. He deserved to die."
"But Abigail doesn't!"
"She saw my face. As did you and the drunk earlier. This entire mission is becoming quite the hassle."
The woman lunged at Caitlin, swinging her right arm in a wide arc. Caitlin heard the bodice of her dress rip and howled in pain, dropping to her knees. The woman laughed and said, "Pretty American women. So bright, and yet so fragile." She brought her knife up again, readying the kill-strike.
Caitlin spun on her knee and thrust up with her hand, burying the knife deep in the other woman's gut. The killer exhaled sharply, eyes wide in the dark. Her fingers loosened around her own knife and it fell to the ground.
"Caitlin?!" Abigail said, running out onto the back porch.
"I'm okay!" Caitlin called, staggering to her feet. Blood was trickling from the wound on her stomach and she started to fall, caught by Abigail. "Is she..."
"Looks like it," Abigail said. She kissed Kate's eyebrow and said, "You saved my life."
Caitlin beamed and pressed her face against Abigail's shoulder.
---
They buried the mystery woman and the knife at the back of Abigail's property. When Gibbs and DiNozzo arrived, Caitlin's wound had been tended and she'd changed into another dress. Gibbs revealed they had been ambushed, their horses ran from the road and crippled. They figured the killer had already been to Abigail's house and done the dirty work.
DiNozzo was assured that everything was fine, but Gibbs kept his eye on Caitlin for a long time after he started back to the road. There was nothing he could do to prove what he suspected and no reason he should try. Caitlin finally bid good-bye to Abigail and headed for her own home. At the edge of the trees, she couldn't resist stopping and looking back, smiling when she saw Abigail was watching her.
~~~
"Kate," Abby whispered. "We should go to bed."
"Mm," Kate murmured, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
Abby rubbed Kate's back and said, "What were you dreaming about? You kept saying things in your sleep."
Kate thought for a moment and shook her head. "Can't remember. Come on. Let's go to bed." She took Abby's hand, intertwining their fingers and leading her to the bedroom.
~~~
Caitlin looked up, smiling at the sight of Abigail standing at the edge of her property. She waved her over and lifted the jug of iced tea she'd prepared in the hopes Abigail would stop by.
Abigail came up the stairs and looked at the layout. "Mind if I sit for a while?"
"I'd love the company," Caitlin said.
Abigail sat in the chair next to Caitlin and poured herself a glass of tea. She clinked her glass against Caitlin's before taking a sip, watching the sunset behind the trees. In a few months, they would lose the battle and the military would take over this little swath of country, complete with their shared secret buried six feet deep. But for now, it was theirs. All theirs. The trees, the sunset and the iced tea.